I'm just another working mom seeking a few moments of Zen and zinfandel between soccer practice and supper. My former beach bartender husband founded 
If your kids are like mine, Howdy Doody sounds like a crude joke from Suite Life of Zack & Cody and they assume all burgers come from fast food restaurants with obnoxious indoor playgrounds and kids’ meals with obnoxious plastic toys that mysteriously disappear every time they stay overnight with their grandparents.
Sometimes you need to expose your kids to another era, a simpler time when 5-year-olds thought a bluetooth was something you got from eating too much candy. A short 20 to 25 minute drive west of our home is a great little roadside 1950s style hamburger joint called Stratton’s.
My husband’s grandmother’s farm is in the rural community of Ashland City in Cheatham County and before Grandmother Jen (that’s Jennie Belle to everyone who grew up with her) passed away we would drive up to visit and it was on one of those trips to the farm that we discovered Stratton’s. During his summers off from college my brother-in-law worked for our hometown gas company and he and his co-workers would drive the 20 minutes to Stratton’s for lunch on a regular basis. It’s just one of those places well worth driving a country, winding road to.
Stratton’s is closing its doors forever this Saturday, September 4. The owner got a sweet deal from Walgreens and is retiring after 38 years in the restaurant business. I wish them the very best, but I will definitely miss their burgers and fries, and stepping back in time with Howdy Doody, Elvis, and a homemade shake.
This is exactly how I imagine an American diner would look. So sad it’s going. But glad you got to enjoy the whole Howdy Doody experience for so long.
Isn’t it sad that we are losing all the little mom and pop businesses? We have a drivein in our town called “Sams” They have all the 50s memorablia on the walls and serve the same types of foods we had in “our day” They still have car hops and cruise nights.Every meal is prepared while you wait. No frozen patties. I would hate it, if they closed.
Balisha.
.-= Balisha´s last blog ..Memories of Salads and a recipe =-.
I hate it when businesses like that close. I mean I can understand, but I still think it is really sad.
.-= Jennifer´s last blog ..Healthy chicken =-.
We will all miss Stratton’s. I don’t know anywhere else you can get a grilled cheese cheeseburger and an old fashioned malt!
.-= Kaye´s last blog ..A very proud Mama =-.
I do agree, it is sad when the little mom and pop store/resto shuts down.
How fun! Love the pics. Cute diner.
.-= Magnolia Mom´s last blog ..Happy Anniversary! =-.
I think you have to root for new businesses that are Mom and Pop owned and patronize them, instead of chains at the local mall. Entrepreneurship is a major engine in our economy and food that is home made or at least local -just does taste better.
Cathy Jo Cress
http://momlovesyoubest.wordpress.com/
I noticed the table top juke box in one of the pics… My husband and I took our daughter to a diner in Kamas ,Utah that had those on the table. She thought it was so cool! The diner was moved here from somewhere on the East coast. It’s nice to have a place where you can slow down and go “back in time” a little. Sorry to hear Stratton’s is closing. : (
.-= Dina´s last blog ..just like me =-.
I haven’t been to Ashland City in years – it breaks my heart to see small towns change.
Completely off the subject but your husband’s blue eyes are gorgeous!
What a fun place to eat! Many great memories were made there over the years, I am sure!